T, Belman. I think that this deal must be done before the government falls in which event the ruling coalition would no longer have a majority. Can such a right wing government be formed without an election???
Proposal said to have been raised at meeting over draft law; report of offer comes days after opposition leader launched personal attacks on former coalition partner
By TOI STAFF Today, 11:35 am
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (L) Defense Minister Benny Gantz (Yonatan Sindel, David Cohen/Flash90)
Opposition Leader Benjamin Netanyahu has again proposed a coalition deal to Defense Minister Benny Gantz whereby the Blue and White chief would become prime minister, it was reported Friday.
Unnamed sources close to Gantz, who himself did not comment on the Channel 12 report, confirmed that the defense minister met with Netanyahu at the end of the most recent Knesset session, saying it was part of attempts to shore up support for a law that regulates exemptions from army service for many members of the ultra-Orthodox community.
However the report said that at the meeting, Netanyahu made the proposal to Gantz whereby “the coalition will be right-wing, but you will stand at its head.”
The report did not clarify whether this was to be a rotation agreement. The offer was presumably made on the basis of the government failing to pass a pair of budget bills in three readings in the Knesset plenum by a November 4 deadline, which would automatically dissolve parliament and trigger elections.
Recent months have seen several reports claiming that the Likud leader was courting the Blue and White chairman to bolt Prime Minister Naftali Bennett’s coalition and instead join the opposition chairman in forming an alternative government.
Gantz and Netanuahu also reportedly spoke ahead of the Rosh Hashanah holiday at the start of the month, to exchange traditional greetings, Channel 12 said.
Netanyahu ally MK Miki Zohar told the outlet on Friday that the proposal was the only chance Gantz had of becoming premier.
“If there is an election, I believe the public will return its support [to Likud] and even increase it so this is the surest way to return to the leadership of the state,” Zohar said. “The other ways, whether via Gantz or another route, are much more complex. Gantz has one slim chance of being prime minister, and if he does not take this opportunity, then he will never be prime minister.”
Former prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu (L) and Likud MK Miki Zohar at a meeting of opposition parties in Netanyahu’s right wing-religious bloc, at the Knesset in Jerusalem, on June 14, 2021. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)
The report of the proposal came days after Netanyahu went on the offensive against Gantz when the defense minister said he was prepared to accept a scenario in which the US negotiates a fresh nuclear deal with Iran, and in the wake of back-to-back terror attacks in Israel. The comments marked the first personal attacks against the defense minister by Netanyahu since the new government was formed.
Netanyahu and Gantz were coalition partners in the previous government, but it collapsed last year after the former refused to pass a budget, in an attempt to block the latter from becoming prime minister in their previously agreed upon rotational deal.
Whenever asked about the Likud offers, Gantz has repeatedly said he was not interested and that Netanyahu could be trusted.
However, the two have also been seen rubbing elbows at public events in recent months, pouring more fuel onto speculation that Gantz might indeed jump ship.
Bear
That’s my position also. I very early on argued that Bibi should resign and allowed a new Likudnik to take over. It was by far more important to have a right wing government without Bibi as PM than to have Bibi at the head of the party which couldn’t form a right wing government.
Bibi stepping aside would have had a new Likud leader as Prime Minister. Yet Bibi, continues to play games to try and hold on to power though it has been shown that he is unable to form a government because of the distrust and Machiavellian behavior he has show for years now. Being in power so long was not good for Israel nor Bibi.
If Bibi, were to step aside Barkat would mostly likely take over the Likud and Israel would be on the path to a strong Nationalist Government.
@Ted, I believe the Likud would need new elections to take over. If the budget passes the last 2 readings the current government will be around for at least 2 years total.
If the budget does not pass the last two readings, Bennett will be the interim PM until a new government is formed post elections.
Interesting question: Would it be better to have a PM who you don’t trust with a govt you do trust, or a PM you do trust with a govt you don’t trust?
Bear
Can the maneuver enable Likud to take over without a new election.
So someone wants Gantz to be Prime Minister?
Bibi had Gantz in his coalition before and only had to do was honor his deal and Gantz would have become Prime Minister. He wiggled out of the deal. Gantz would be super stupid to believe Bibi’s proposal. I doubt very much he will be again be suckered into another Bibi scheme.